While on our 2008 NEXT Family Retreat
04/05/2008 23:01 Filed in: Pastor's
Words
While on our
2008 NEXT Family Retreat
This past week
while on our 2008 NEXT Family Retreat, a few of us
took the opportunity to participate in a Climbing
Tower and what they called the “BIG SWING.” Although
I was threatened by my lovely wife Pam not to take
part (I have broken almost every part of my body at
least one time or another) I just couldn’t resist
when it came to the “BIG SWING.” The idea of the
swing is for you to be secured into a Safety Harness
while your Teammates raise you up by a cable to about
40 feet into the air at which time you then pull a
release that sends you flying overhead. What an
amazing rush! I think I yelled out something like…
“Oh GOD!” It was glorious… and it suddenly took
me back as I was reminded of how if felt that first
Sunday on November 26, 2006 when we planted NEXT
Community Church. Oh my gosh, how do we
maintain that level of excitement?
In January 2007, I wrote to our small church the following:
One thing that remains constant in life is change and change often rocks our boat in ways we do not always want to embrace. But what if we were to prayerfully embrace change, what if we were to fully embrace that call that GOD has placed on each of us? What if we were to always be looking to see what GOD was going to do NEXT and looked to come along side of Him?
GOD has placed a GOD sized task before us and I suspect we should be prepared to buckle up, strap on the safety harness, lower the goggles and prepare for one wild ride. As scary as that may sound to some, I know from personal experience that once after seeking GOD’s favor and will, I have been able to accomplish much that seemed well outside my own ability and strength. God has allowed me to witness and experience many miraculous signs and wonders all around me. With that said, I invite you to join me on an amazing journey with Christ. To experience His grace, love, peace and amazing presence is a gift that is available to all of us if we are willing to prepare ourselves to receive all the blessings and revelation He so desires to abundantly rain down upon us.
So today, I restate that same invitation… come! Step out of the boat with me, kick it away and swim out to deep water or grab your helmet & harness and come fly! Being a part of NEXT means to always be in anticipation of what GOD will be doing NEXT and being in constant preparation to step out in faith with the full assurance that if He is who has called for us to move, it is He who will prepare us and see us through whatever mission He places before us.
Peace!
In Christ,
Pastor Scott
In January 2007, I wrote to our small church the following:
One thing that remains constant in life is change and change often rocks our boat in ways we do not always want to embrace. But what if we were to prayerfully embrace change, what if we were to fully embrace that call that GOD has placed on each of us? What if we were to always be looking to see what GOD was going to do NEXT and looked to come along side of Him?
GOD has placed a GOD sized task before us and I suspect we should be prepared to buckle up, strap on the safety harness, lower the goggles and prepare for one wild ride. As scary as that may sound to some, I know from personal experience that once after seeking GOD’s favor and will, I have been able to accomplish much that seemed well outside my own ability and strength. God has allowed me to witness and experience many miraculous signs and wonders all around me. With that said, I invite you to join me on an amazing journey with Christ. To experience His grace, love, peace and amazing presence is a gift that is available to all of us if we are willing to prepare ourselves to receive all the blessings and revelation He so desires to abundantly rain down upon us.
So today, I restate that same invitation… come! Step out of the boat with me, kick it away and swim out to deep water or grab your helmet & harness and come fly! Being a part of NEXT means to always be in anticipation of what GOD will be doing NEXT and being in constant preparation to step out in faith with the full assurance that if He is who has called for us to move, it is He who will prepare us and see us through whatever mission He places before us.
Peace!
In Christ,
Pastor Scott
